Enforcing discipline often gives a notion of autocracy in India: PM Modi

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday sought to suggest that people in India often go shy of discipline and maintained that anybody trying to enforce it can really face many hurdles.

“Our Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu has a great liking for discipline....But in our country often discipline is misinterpreted as a symbol of autocracy. Anyone trying to impose discipline may get into trouble,” the Prime Minister said at a function here organised to release a book by Mr Naidu on completion of his one year in office.

Highlighting many facets of Mr Naidu’s qualities, the Prime Minister made special mention of the Vice- President’s commitment to the cause of rural India.

“I was party general secretary then....Atalji (Atal Bihari Vajpayee) wanted to give a major portfolio to Venkaiahji but he went to the then Prime Minister and requested him to allot him the responsibility of Rural Development,” Mr Modi said in presence of an esteemed audience including former Prime Ministers H D Deve Gowda and Dr Manmohan Singh and Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan.

The book ‘Moving on ....Moving forward: A Year in Office’ was released by the Prime Minister on the occasion.

Among others the impressive function was also addressed by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Naidu underlined the importance of transparency and accountability in public life. (UNI)